Have been using the actual Gmail app on my BlackBerry since it came ot but have noticed recently that messages sometimes don't come in until I open the app. I deleted it today and have messages coming directly to my device via my inbox. What are pros and cons of both methods?

I have the gmail account as well as the gmail app on my bb. I like using the account ob my bb cuz I get email almost instantly. But for composing emails I like the gmail app because it has a good bit more features.

I use the app because it allows me full access to my entire gmail profile. All the labels that I have created as well as transcripts of my chats, please all activities I carryout in the app is reflected in my gmail profile.

Also, using the app I'm able to view multiple gmail account profiles (which I have). This allows me to use the app to login to all 4 of my gmail accounts and get notified when e-mails hit any of these accounts, and I can reply to these e-mails and the info is maintained within each account so I can access all info from the web interface.

In response to your problem of having to load the program. I use a program called StartMeUp. Its free and I can indicate the applications that should be started when I reboot my BlackBerry. You can get this free software at http://wap.shao-soft.com or http://www.shao-soft.com.

I prefer using the app because everything I do is maintained in my account.

I forward my Gmail to my ZW BB address. That lets me use the BB's messaging app. I use the Gmail app to "clean up" or search other labels when I need to. I don't integrate my Gmail with BIS because it doesn't work well--syncing from Web to handset only syncs deleted email and it takes up to three hours. Read items don't sync back to the handset. It's better for me to have no syncing at all than partial syncing.